During my vacation to Aruba in September, I encountered Julie on the dock. Her set up instantly caught my attention, especially her distressed red couch. As my family and I approached her, she warmly welcomed us and offered to sell us two enormous pieces of red snapper for $25, which included gutting and cleaning the fish. Julie even recommended a nearby restaurant where we could have the fish cooked to our preference - fried or broiled. The fish was incredibly fresh that my mother and aunt placed an order for six pieces to take back home to New York.

Julie shared with me that she moved to Aruba from India ten years ago to seek a better life. She married a fisherman and together, they started a fish and fishing boat tour business. This way of life has given her the opportunity to provide for her family in India. Her positive attitude towards life and her beautiful earth colored eyes fascinated me. With her permission, I requested to create a photo journal dedicated to her.

Upon my return for my order, Julie shared her stories of her family back home and how she ended up with a lazy left eye. Apparently, while on a fishing trip, a mishap occurred where the fishing rod suddenly jammed and hit her in the eye, causing the injury that resulted in a lazy eye.

As I looked at Julie through my camera lens, I noticed a spark in her eyes that spoke volumes of her spirit and passion. Her story had made her even more intriguing to me, and I knew I wanted to capture her essence in my photo journal. As I left her that day, I couldn't help but feel inspired by her story and grateful for the opportunity to have met such a remarkable person.